126 Insects: Supplemental Guide 6A | Insects That Glow and Sing
Show image 6A-10: Katydid
You may be familiar with my cousin, the katydid. Katydids have
long antennae, just like me. As they rub their front wings together,
it sounds like they are calling out “Katy did, Katy did.” Their high-
pitched calls become faster and faster as the outside temperature
rises. Some people even say that you can tell how hot it is by the
number of times per second a katydid chirps. If katydids live in
your part of the world and you are patient enough, you may want
to try counting the number of chirps you hear every fi ve seconds.
Add thirty nine to that number and you may have an accurate
reading of the temperature, depending on the species of katydid
you are hearing.
Show image 6A-11: Cricket cage and cricket
In some Asian countries, in a tradition that has been practiced
for thousands of years, male crickets have been kept in cages
as singing pets. Do you know where the ears of a cricket are
located? You may remember that female grasshoppers hear with
special parts on their abdomens, but crickets have “ears” on their
forelegs.^12 Both places must seem a little strange to you since
your ears are on the sides of your head.
Before I leave today, I want to introduce you to another singing
insect. These insects are often mistaken for grasshoppers and
crickets because they look a lot like us.
Show image 6A-12: Cicada
Does anyone remember what this insect is called? This is a
cicada [si-KAY-duh]. Cicadas are related to aphids, leafhoppers,
and spittlebugs. Unlike grasshoppers and crickets, many cicadas
have strong wings and are fast fl iers.
Male cicadas produce incredibly loud songs, but they do not
use their legs and wings to make those sounds.12 The front legs of animals are called
forelegs.